Spindle centering device



April 16, 1957 L. BlRKlGT 2,783,633

' SPINDLE CENTERING DEVICE Filed Oct. 21, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 400/5 a/m/az':

QL-A BQW Arm/ME? United States PatentQ SPIN DLE CENTERENG DEVICE Louis Birkigt, Versoix pres Geneva, Switzerland, assignor to Hispano Suiza (Suisse), S. A., Geneva, Switzerland, a Swiss society Application October 21, 1953, Serial No. 387,408

Claims priority, application Luxembourg October 28, 1952 10 Claims. (Cl. 57102) The present invention has for its object improvements in the spindle-centering systems used for spinning or twisting frames of the rocking spindle type. It relates more specifically to spindles controlled by a worm and worm wheel and adapted to assume, more particularly when passing through predetermined critical speeds, a slight slope having for its result a transverse shifting of the lower end of the spindle.

In the arrangement according to the invention, the lower end of the oscillating spindle of a frame of the above-mentioned type rests in a step-bearing adapted to assume slight transverse movements in response to the modifications in the angular setting of the spindle, the movements of said step-bearing being controlled, at least beyond a predetermined amplitude of oscillation, by a centering member having a conical or similarly shaped bearing surface engaging a shoulder rigid with the stationary casing of the frame; the novel feature of the invention resides in that said centering member is urged into contact against said shoulder through the mere action of gravity, i. e. without resorting to the action of any elastic means.

The following description will allow the invention to be readily understood, reference being made to accompanying drawings illustrating two preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed by way of a mere exemplification. in said drawings:

Fig. l is an elevational partly sectional and partly torn off elevational view of a spinning spindle driven by a worm gear and provided with centering means in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view on a. larger scale of the lower part of a spindle of the same type executed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

In the embodiments which seem to be preferable at the present time, it is possible to execute an improved spinning Spindle of the oscillating and sliding type driven by a worm gear in the following manner:

The spindle is controlled in the conventional manner by a worm wheel 1 meshing with a hollow worm 2 rigid with a coaxial sleeve 3 held centrally with reference to the casing 4 of the frame through the agency of an upper bearing 5 and of a lower bearing 6, said bearings being for instance constituted by ball bearings and being located respectively above and underneath the area of engagement between the worm Wheel 1 and the worm 2.

The sleeve 3 is engaged with a clearance by the actual spindle 7 which is mounted so as to be capable of oscillating within predetermined limits around a pivotal center C located above the upper bearing 5, the oscillating movement of said spindle around said pivotal center being accompanied by a transverse shifting of the lower end 70 of the spindle.

In order to allow such a transverse shifting of the lower end 7a of the spindle, the latter bears through said lower end on an oscillating stepbearing 8 which will be described with further detail hereinafter since it forms an essential part of, the present inventioni vibrations to which the frame is submitted could notbe.

2,788,633 latented Apr. 16, 1957 As to the oscillations of the spindle 7, they may be allowedin a very simple manner, taking into account the fact that the modifications in the angular position of said spindle assume in practice a very reduced maximum amplitude, by holding said spindle above the upper above-mentioned bearing 5 inside a further bearing 10, for instance a roller bearing, the inherent transverse play of which allows the above-mentioned modifications in the angular position of the spindle, said bearing 10 being fitted between the spindle 7 and a sleeve 11 rigid with the casing 4 of the frame.

As to the coupling of the sleeve 3 with the spindle 7, which coupling is required for constraining said parts to revolve in unison, this may be obtained advantageously in conformity with a prior invention made by applicant, by connecting said sleeve with said spindle by means of a centrifugal clutch housed inside the sleeve 12, which forms an upward extension of the sleeve 3, the radially moving parts of said centrifugal clutch, which has not been illustrated in the drawing, rotating in unison with said spindle 7 under the action of a fluted coupling sleeve or the like similar part, which allows removing the spindle through an axial movement thereof.

It has already been proposed to provide a spindle of this type with recentering means which urge constantly the oscillatory step-bearing back into its medial position,

for which position the axis of the spindle is in alignment with the worm 2. Certain prior arrangements have been proposed, which include in particular a centering member engaging through a conical or substantially conical self-centering bearing surface a shoulder rigid with the casing, but in such prior arrangements the centering member was always urged against said shoulder by elastic means constituted generally by a helical spring arranged coaxially with reference to the spindle.

It is apparent that, in such a prior structure, frictional stresses always act, by reason of the pressure exerted by the spring between the conical contact surfaces, on the centering member and on the shoulder.

Now, such frictional stresses would oppose to a certain extent the return of the centering member and also of the step-bearing into their medial positions so that the arrangement would then act chiefly as an eccentricity damping means; but it would be far less efficient when considered as a centering system adapted to return the step-bearing into its medial position.

With a view to cutting out such a drawback and in conformity with the main feature of the invention, a centering member 14 is provided for cooperation with the oscillatory step-bearing, said centering member 14 engaging a shoulder 15 rigid with the casing 4 of the frame, the above-mentioned conical bearing surface A on the centering member being urged against the shoulder 15 solely through the action of gravity.

Thus, the slight vibrations produced through the actual operation of the frame will cut out the frictional stresses which might arise on the conical bearing surface A, which frictional stresses would oppose the return movement of the centering member 14 towards its medial position.

As a matter of fact, said centering member which is not urged by a spring into engagement with the shoulder 15 will execute, by reason of said vibrations of the frame, a number of successive bounces of a very small amplitude which have a tendency to lower the center of gravity of the centering member under the action of gravity; said bounces will allow said centering member to return gradually into its medial position and consequently will ensure the desired return of the step-bearing 8 into its medial position.

It is quite certain that such a recentering of the stepbearing through the sole action of gravity and of the ayrsaess performed if the centering member 14 were urged energetically by a spring against the shoulder 15, since in such a case the energy of the spring would not allow the centering member to elude periodicallythrough a succession of bouncestheaction offrictionon the conical bearing surface A.

It is therefore certain that the main arrangement provided by the present invention-- constrains the centering member 14 toplay its'part correctly in. all circumstances under the action of gravity.

Although it is possible, taking into account the preceding disclosure, to establishrsuch aspindle-centering.

system operating through the sole action ofgravity, seems of more particular advantage to resort for this purpose to one of the two embodiments which will be described with further-detail hereinaftenvsaid embodiments being; disclosed however by means of a mereexemplification.

Thus the embodimentEillustratedin Fig. 1 provides s design. for'the centering system'whereby, the centering member 14 has a tendency to become centered through" the'sole action of its own weight as explained.

Said. weight of the centering, member should be sufficient forthe member 14 to play efiiciently not only the part of a recentering member for the step bearing 8, but also that of a damperforthe oscillations'of said stepbearing.

It should be remarked through this last mentioned standpoint that for this dual recenterin g and damping action, the critical parameters are the weight of the cenflange P (which is practically a sphere with its center at v C) on asocket rigid with the casing 4'. The 'upper flange-shaped edge 9a of said socket 9is held fast betweenthe outer race of the lower ball bearing 6 and an element rigid with the casing 4.

Inthe embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the bodyof the centering member-14 assumes theshape 'of a sleeve having a'generally cylindrical shape and the height 'ofwhich is'substantially equal to that of the step-bearing 8.

Said body includes:an'upper'extension constituted by a' cylindrical sleeve 14a fitted with some-play between the above-mentioned socket'9 and-a wall rigid with the casing '4, said wall 13' forming for instance a sleevecar rying the bearing 6.

There is further provided between the cooperatingisurfaces of the step-bearing 8 and centering member 14 a certain clearance 11, whereby said centering member is shifted transversely only for amplitudes beyond a predetermined amplitude'of oscillation of the step-bearing; a further play i2 is provided of course between the outer surface of the centering member and the stationary wall 13] It is also possible to insert' insidethe last-mentioned clearance '2 a sleeve 16 mounted freely, and with a c'er-" tain clearance, the lateral shifting of such'a sleeve 16 having for itsresult an increase of the dampingaction' when the oscillations of the centering member 14 reach an amplitude such that said sleeve in its turn is shifted by four bores 17 through which oil is allowed to-flowtowards the lower end of the spindle, whereby the-movements of'the ditferent parts-cooperating; in: theabraking of'the-oscillations of the step bearing 8 are:damped byzthe oil-bath surrounding. said partstering member and the angle at the apex-of the conical- The above-described embodiment is suitable for the case where it is desired'to damp the oscillations of the step-bearing 8 solely when they reach a predetermined amplitude. When it is desired to make the centering member 14 act as soon as the step-bearing 8 is shifted out of its medial position, it is necessary to resort to a modification wherein the clearance j1 between the stepbearing and the centering member is cutout;

The step,bearin gv 8 and the centering member14 form then advantageously a unitary member, whereby the conical or the like self-centering bearing. surface A is urgedagainst the stationary shoulder 15 no longer under the action of the weight of'the' sole centering'member 14 but alsounder the action of the-combined weights ofth'e step-bearing S, of the spindle 7 and of the bobbin carried by said spindle. As amatt'er of'fact, the actual weights of the spindle and of the bobbin are adapted to operate as centering forces byreason of said spindle beingslidably mounted so that consequently any trans-v verse-shifting, of the step-bearing has for it'sactionto raise the spindle which has obviously then a tendencyto return towards'its lowermost position under the actionof gravity.

It is apparent that the centering forces acting against friction are considerably increased thereby without it being necessary to give the member 14 a very large Weight requiring an exaggerated size.

On the other hand, the above-referredto centering forces vary in the same manner as theweight of the.

bobbin, which is obviously an advantage.

It isv preferable, in the case considered, for the conical bearing A to be located above the point at which the spindle 7 engages the bottom of the step-bearing 8 which.

forms then an automatically centered pendular step-bearmg.

Such a centering system incorporating a pendular step.- bearing has the advantage of being more stable than a system for which the conical bearing surface A lies, as in the case of Fig. 1, underneath the point at which the spindle 7 engages the bottom of the step-bearings:

Fig.1 2 shows by way of eXemplification-a preferred embodiment .of such acentering system.

According to said embodiment, the step-bearing 8 engages with a force fit a bore provided to this end insidev the member 14, said step-bearing being held fast through its lowerend, for instance by a crimped edge. The centeringrzmember 14 includes as precedinglypan upwardly directed-extension constituted by the sleeve" 14a which stationary cup 19 surrounding the lower end of the tubularworm '2, thespindlepassing throughsaid cup with a 'clear ance suchthatthere remains an annular gap allowing the passage of lubricant through it betweenthe inner edge of the cup and the spindle, the cross-sectional area of said gap'being. less than that of the free space extending between the cooperating-surfaces of the tubular worm and of thespindle throughout the lower sectionof saidspindl'e:

It is thus apparent that whatever embodimentis resorted to, the invention provides a spinning spindle of the oscillatory type provided with a particularly simple high efficiency centering system adapted to' damp even the high frequency" vibrations of the bobbin-carrying spindle.

What I claim is:- 1. In a frame,-the 1combination of aeasingaaivertical spindle adapted to oscillate slightly with reference to the casing, a Worm gear carried by the casing and driving said spindle to make it rotate round its axis, a step-bearing adapted to carry the lower end of the spindle and to assume a slight lateral shifting with reference to the casing under the action of the oscillations assumed by the spindle, a centering member surrounding the step-bearing, a shoulder rigid with the casing and provided with an upwardly flaring bearing surface coaxial with the centering member, said centering member being provided with an upwardly and outwardly directed surface through which it is self-centeringly carried by the bearing surface on the shoulder independently of any further connection with the casing and resting on the said bearing surface under the sole action of gravity.

2. In a frame, the combination of a casing, a vertical spindle adapted to oscillate slightly with reference to the casing, a worm gear carried by the casing and driving said spindle to make it rotate round its axis, a step-bearing adapted to carry the lower end of the spindle and to assume a slight lateral shifting with reference to the casing under the action of the oscillations assumed by the spindle, a centering member surrounding the stepbearing and vertically shiftable with reference thereto, a shoulder rigid with the casing and provided with an upwardly flaring surface coaxial with the centering member, said centering member being provided with an upwardly and outwardly directed surface resting on the bearing surface of the shoulder under the sole action of its own weight, independently of any further connection with the casing.

3. In a frame, the combination of a casing, a vertical spindle adapted to oscillate slightly with reference to the casing, a worm gear carried by the casing and driving said spindle to make it rotate round its axis, a step-bearing adapted to carry the lower end of the spindle and to assume the action of the oscillations assumed by the spindle, a centering member surrounding the step-bearing with a predetermined annular clearance between said step-bearing and said centering member, a shoulder rigid with the casing and provided with an upwardly flaring bearing surface coaxial with the centering member, said centering member being provided with an upwardly and outwardly directed surface resting on the bearing surface of the shoulder under the sole action of its own weight independently of any further connection with the casing and being adapted to damp the oscillating movements of the step-bearing exceeding the amplitude defined by the clearance between said centering member and said stepbearing.

4. In a frame, the combination of a casing, a vertical spindle adapted to oscillate slightly with reference to the casing, a worm gear carried by the casing and driving said spindle to make it rotate round its axis, a step-bearing adapted to carry the lower end of the spindle and to assume a slight lateral shifting with reference to the casing under the action of the oscillations assumed by the spindle, a centering member surrounding the step-bearing and fitted over the outer periphery of the latter, a shoulder rigid with the casing and provided with an upwardly flaring surface coaxial with the centering member, said centering member being provided with an upwardly and outwardly directed surface resting on the bearing surface of the shoulder under the sole action of its own weight, independently of any further connection with the casing and being adapted to damp the oscillations of the stepbearing away from a normal vertical position.

5. In a frame, the combination of a casing, a vertical spindle adapted to oscillate slightly with reference to the casing, a bobbin adapted to be carried by said spindle, a worm gear carried by the casing and driving said spindle to make it rotate round its axis, a step-bearing adapted to carry the lower end of the spindle and to assume a slight lateral shifting with reference to the casing under the action of the oscillations assumed by the spindle, a centering member surrounding the step-bearing and engaged by the latter, a shoulder rigid with the casing and provided with an upwardly flaring surface coaxial with the centering member, said centering member being provided with i spindle adapted to oscillate slightly with reference to the.

casing, a bobbin adapted to be carried by said spindle, a worm gear carried by the casing and driving said spindle to make it rotate round its axis, a step-bearing adapted to carry the lower end of the spindle and to assume a slight lateral shifting with reference to the casing under the action of the oscillations assumed by the spindle, a

centering member surrounding the step-bearing and rigid with the latter, a shoulder rigid with the casing and provided with an upwardly flaring surface coaxial with the centering member, said centering member being provided with an upwardly and outwardly directed surface resting on the bearing surface of the shoulder under the sole action of its own weight associated with that of the stepbearing, of the spindle and of the bobbin on the spindle, independently of any further connection with the casing.

7. In a frame, the combination of a casing, 21 vertical spindle adapted to oscillate slightly with reference to the casing, a bobbin adapted to be carried by said spindle, a worm gear carried by the casing and driving said spindle to make it rotate round its axis, a step-bearing adapted to carry the lower end of the spindle and to assume a slight lateral shifting with reference to the casing under the action of the oscillations assumed by the spindle, a centering member surrounding the step-bearing and engaged by the latter, a shoulder rigid with the casing and provided with an upwardly flaring surface coaxial with the centering member and located at a level higher than that at which the lower end of the spindle engages the step bearing, said centering member being provided with an upwardly and outwardly directed surface resting on the bearing surface of the shoulder under the sole action of its own weight associated with that of the step-bearing, of the spindle and of the bobbin on the spindle, independently of any further connection with the casing.

8. In a frame, the combination of a casing, a vertical spindle adapted to oscillate slightly with reference to the casing, a bobbin adapted to be carried by said spindle, a worm gear carried by the casing and driving said spindle to make it rotate round its axis, a step-bearing adapted to carry the lower end of the spindle and to assume a slight lateral shifting with reference to the casing under the action of the oscillations assumed by the spindle, a centering member surrounding the step'bearing and rigid with the latter, a shoulder rigid with the casing and provided with an upwardly flaring surface coaxial with the centering member, means preventing any rotation of the centering member with reference to the casing, said centering member being provided with an upwardly and outwardly directed surface resting on the bearing surface of the shoulder under the sole action of its own weight associated with that of the step-bearing, of the spindle and of the bobbin on the spindle, independently of any further connection with the casing.

9. In a frame, the combination of a casing, a vertical spindle adapted to oscillate slightly with reference to the casing, a worm gear carried by the casing and driving said spindle to make it rotate round its axis, a step-bearing adapted to carry the lower end of the spindle and to assume a slight lateral shifting with reference to the casing under the action of the oscillations assumed by the spindle, a centering member surrounding the step-bearing and provided with longitudinal lubricant-conveying bores, a shoulder rigid with the casing and provided with an upwardly flaring surface coaxial with the centering memavssmssbemsaidcenteringamember heingiaprmlided:with= an up.

wardly:and-aoutwardlyv directed surface restingon the with theeasing 10; In a frame;thecornbination of a casing, a vertical spindle-'adaptedto oscillate slightly with reference to the casing, a bobbin adaptedto be carried by said spindle, a wormgear carried bythecasing and driving said spindle to make it rotate round: its axis, a step-bearing adapted to carryothe' lower end of'the spindle and to assume a slight lateral= shiftingswith reference to the casing, under thei'action of' th'e oscillations assumed by the spindle, a centering member surrounding-thestep-bearing and rigid With-Abe "latter to forma unitary member provided with channels-for the passage'of lubricant through said unitary member-, a shoulder rigid:with-thecasingsand provided with an npwai'dlyRflaring surface-coaxial with the centering; member, said centering-member being provided with an upwardly. and outwardly directed surface resting on the bearing surface ofthe shoulder under the sole action of its own weight associated with that of the step-bearing, of-the spindle andof the bobbin on the spindle, independently of any further connection with the casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 727,255 Ashworth May 5, 1903 1,924,176 Banfield et al. Aug. 29, 1933 2,351,951 Gleitz June 20, 1944 2,671,702 Meadows Mar. 9, 1954 2,756,117 Cotchett July 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 539,410 Great Britain. Sept.9, 1941 

